O'dourves- yay or nay?

80% of the guestlist is his family and you are paying 100% for the wedding because he is in school? Girl you need to reevaluate more than appetizers

I had to pay half of the minimum for the day when we booked, so I already paid the venue $3k. So no, we can't change venues. I will figure it out. I'm not actually going to put it on a credit card. I was joking, because I have people to that to me all the time.

I’m skeptical you’re a seasoned wedding photographer and had no idea what the going rates were for different components of a wedding. Since everyone is “broke” by the time they meet with you (great way to describe your clients btw, classy. how do you know their financial status? H and I used credit cards for everything we could because we get points and pay it off in full every month. Certainly our photographer and florist weren’t running around laughing that we were broke). Anyways, back to the topic - since everyone is “broke” by the time they get to you, you must charge a pretty penny. Pick up more weddings, work during the busy season as much as you can, do engagement shoots. Etc. if your response is that you already work 60-70 hours a week, then it’s highly suspicious you can’t save the money in 18 months time working that many hours, even in a minimum wage job. Also agree with Cecilia, stop going out for dinner and drinks, cook at home, buy in bulk, only buy by necessary instead of luxury.

Dupe post but edited to add - not everyone who uses a credit card is broke and struggling. Ffs. H and I use our credit card points to book flights and hotels, not because we can’t afford our lifestyle.

Yes I would expect them

@OP Can we see the list of options? Not all apps are created equal, and we might be able to help you choose wisely to get the best bang for your buck.

That can’t be the only job...

As Kristin said, we’re not being mean, we’re trying to explain it’s not realistic.

This is now my third time stating it, what if there are guests with food allergies? I’m allergic to strawberries, so I can’t eat anything that comes into contact with them. I’m also lactose intolerant, so I can’t eat cheese without becoming violently ill. My son is actually allergic to milk. So neither of us could eat the cheese tray... there’s celiac, there’s crohns., offering only two options isn’t enough.

Nas, it’s absolutely absurd the catering prices in South Florida.

We're not being mean, we're being realistic - something you need to be.

I cover 35 weddings a year. I know my clients usually pay me more than what the standard "wedding budgeting calculators" tell them they should for a photographer. I'm a super laid-back person, and I feel like people generally are pretty candid with me. Do people tell me they had a million and one expenses come up and end up having to put their final payment on a card they are just going to slowly pay off? Yep- it totally happens. And I cherish those clients, because I know they really value my work, or they wouldn't have booked me.

Do buffet style hors d'oeuvres, so guests will have something to munch on. Some places have cheese and crackers options, or see if you could find a fruit salad selection. I've been to a number of weddings recently where that was what they did. At my first wedding, in 2014, passed hors d'oeuvres were served and it was so expensive. Second time around I'm opting for stationary. It can still look very nice.

Honestly, food and drink is probably in the top 4 most important things for a wedding. Hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour are pretty much expected. I would cut back somewhere else so you could afford the extra $1600.

Lilchameleon, what pray tell is the going rate, and what you charge. I budgeted for my photographer, because that’s incredibly important to me.

Dude, I have crohns disease, and end up not eating at 80% of the weddings I work, I can't even with the food allergy stuff. It's life. My venue is bringing my vegetarian guests special plates at dinner time. If someone says they have a restriction on their RSVP I'll cater to it the best my venue will allow. But sometimes, there's weddings, that when you have crohns, you just don't get to eat. It happens.

“I can't even with the food allergy stuff. It's life.“

Good to know the potential risk of an anaphylactic reaction is no big deal to you... holy fuck.

One photographer we’re considering, I know her personally. I would never discuss anything finance related. I’m trying to budget, and have a cushion in case something pops up and I’m nit scrambling.

Also- I wouldn't be asking this question if every wedding I worked had them at their cocktail hour. Meaning some don't. I never time to eat any, so I don't miss them, or notice, but I'm not a guest, so I didn't really know the guest point of view. Thus why I asked. :/

I'm highly allergic to carrots, radishes, celery, bananas, and carry an epipen with me all the time, I live food allergies everyday.

Have you ever went into anaphylactic shock after just walking into a Smoothie King? Cause I have. I'm well aware of dietary restrictions.

Considering I can’t use an epipen, life is fun...

If you’re well aware, then how do you have zero compassion or thought for guests that could have them?

I don't think you need anything fancy, but people are probably going to be hungry and you don't want alcohol going to your guests heads because they haven't eaten in a several hours or them not drinking for the same reason. Snacks are always a good idea, even if you just do a little classy fruit, cheese, crackers sort of thing

5000 for 35 guests is roughly 150.00 PP. In my area, that's a bit high, but with tax and service included, it's normal.